ESPN's take on it

[Stifle Tower]

It's a good theory. I have heard that Pritchard had a rep for spreading destabilising rumors like this (e.g the alleged three-way trade discussions last year with the Blazers and Bulls involving Boozer and Hinrich and I forget who else, which was news to both the Chicago and Utah front offices), but perhaps it is the standard M.O. for the organisation.

And remember their posturing and threatening a lawsuit if/when another teamed signed Darius Miles. Grizz almost made up for the Gasol trade when they told Portland to go pound sand and signed him anyway.

 

[The-Joker]

It's a good theory. I have heard that Pritchard had a rep for spreading destabilising rumors like this (e.g the alleged three-way trade discussions last year with the Blazers and Bulls involving Boozer and Hinrich and I forget who else, which was news to both the Chicago and Utah front offices), but perhaps it is the standard M.O. for the organisation.

was it pritchard tho? same stuff seems to still be going down

 

[NUMBERICA]

I'm starting to wonder if ESPN themselves are starting to make up this crap just to get the conversation of "some great player isn't playing for a major market and isn't happy about it for some reason" started and to stir up a story to increase viewership. It's not the craziest thing to imagine, this isn't exactly a real news organization or anything.

 

[One Brow]

Another rule that could become part of the new CBA in is the franchise player rule (which apparently NFL has but I don't follow it so don't really know how it works.. can someone fill me in?).

I believe you have to offer some sort of near-maximum contract, but it's been years since I read up on the rule. I can see the players union agreeing to the franchise tag being an offer of a maximum contract with a maximum percentage as a signing bonus, in exchange for other concessions.

 

[billyshelby]

I think the Franchise would be pretty difficult to implement in the NBA, or it would at least have to be significantly modified to work. Forgetting the particularities, the Franchise Tag in the NFL allows a team to retain a UFA for one year at the average of the Top 5 salaries at his position. But NFL contracts are largely not guaranteed. So 'Franchise' players are losing substantially less money even with signing bonuses (and how they prorate to make it harder for teams to cut them.) In the NBA, forcing, say, Lebron to a Franchise Tag under the same provisions costs him 80 million dollars up front. And you'd theoretically get to keep Lebron on one year contracts for the rest of his career. If the Players Association signed off on this they'd be killed by ninjas. As long as NBA contracts are guaranteed, Franchise Tags would be very difficult to make work.

 

[Fishsticks]

I'm starting to wonder if ESPN themselves are starting to make up this crap just to get the conversation of "some great player isn't playing for a major market and isn't happy about it for some reason" started and to stir up a story to increase viewership. It's not the craziest thing to imagine, this isn't exactly a real news organization or anything.

This is also my belief. They made a bundle off this offseason. Why not try to make every summer the off season of superstar movement regardless of truth.

 

[shadler]

I believe you have to offer some sort of near-maximum contract, but it's been years since I read up on the rule. I can see the players union agreeing to the franchise tag being an offer of a maximum contract with a maximum percentage as a signing bonus, in exchange for other concessions.

If they don't solve it now markets like the jazz,n.o., denver, cleveland, toronto and all the other smaller markets will never win a title. The new age nba player is all about themself and this summer has done nothing but prove it. I am pretty sure that most owners would want it, because most owners have not won a ring will want a cap. The funny thing is that as you see all these big markets get these players that they don't know it is going to back fire on the players one day. You think L.A won all those rings by chance or do you think it is because of the market? Feels more like a bcs system going around.